Brown-dwarf desert
Encyclopedia
The brown-dwarf desert is a theorized range of orbits around a star on which brown dwarf
s cannot exist as a companion object. This is usually up to 5 AU
around solar mass
stars.
This desert occurs because if a brown dwarf was to form it would have to do so at the same time as its companion star. If the brown dwarf forms within 5 AU of its companion star it would begin migration towards the star and eventually become consumed by the larger star.
It has recently been observed that very-low-mass binaries could destroy the theory of brown-dwarf deserts. This is because low-mass binaries are seen to orbit within 5AU; however, due to the low mass of the larger companion, this matter is still a topic of debate.
Brown dwarf
Brown dwarfs are sub-stellar objects which are too low in mass to sustain hydrogen-1 fusion reactions in their cores, which is characteristic of stars on the main sequence. Brown dwarfs have fully convective surfaces and interiors, with no chemical differentiation by depth...
s cannot exist as a companion object. This is usually up to 5 AU
Astronomical unit
An astronomical unit is a unit of length equal to about or approximately the mean Earth–Sun distance....
around solar mass
Solar mass
The solar mass , , is a standard unit of mass in astronomy, used to indicate the masses of other stars and galaxies...
stars.
This desert occurs because if a brown dwarf was to form it would have to do so at the same time as its companion star. If the brown dwarf forms within 5 AU of its companion star it would begin migration towards the star and eventually become consumed by the larger star.
It has recently been observed that very-low-mass binaries could destroy the theory of brown-dwarf deserts. This is because low-mass binaries are seen to orbit within 5AU; however, due to the low mass of the larger companion, this matter is still a topic of debate.